Fremont, Calif. — Logitech has agreed to acquire privately held Ultimate Ears, of Irvine, Calif., a supplier of consumer earphones as well as custom in-ear monitors for professional musicians and sound engineers. The sale price is $34 million in cash.
According to Logitech, the acquisition will allow the company to expand its portfolio of digital audio products, providing more options for portable music listening.
Currently the company’s audio portfolio includes portable and home digital music speaker systems, and speakers and headphones for PCs.
Ultimate Ears offers a line of consumer earphones for the iPhone, iPod and other MP3 players.
“Ultimate Ears is a perfect fit for Logitech and our audio business,” said Gerald Quindlen, Logitech president/CEO. “Since its inception, Ultimate Ears has been driven by innovation, close ties to its customers, and the desire to enable an immersive audio experience. Logitech’s success has been built on using a deep understanding of our customers to create innovative products that let people immerse themselves in their pursuits — whether they are listening to music, gaming, watching a video or otherwise enjoying their digital lifestyle. We look forward to using our worldwide distribution network and operational efficiencies to help more people discover this superior listening experience.”
Ultimate Ears was founded in 1995 to address the sound-monitoring needs of on-stage rock musicians, developing the industry’s first high-performance two-way, custom in-ear stage monitors, according to Logitech. The brand claims a loyal following among professional touring musicians and sound engineers.
In 2005, Ultimate Ears expanded its product line with universal-fit earphones for audiophiles as well as mainstream music enthusiasts. Pricing for the company’s consumer products start at $40, while pricing for custom products can be as much as $1,200.
Ultimate Ears has approximately 40 employees.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close this month.
